Apologies to Andy Robinson, but if he is a little smug at still being the last Scotland head coach to plot victory over the Springboks in the wake of Saturday’s 26-20 loss at Murrayfield, he’s on his own.

South African stand-off Handre Pollard’s 18 points and the physical power of the Springbok pack were enough to hand Scotland their first defeat at Murrayfield in 2018 but there was definitely a feeling of missed opportunity for the home side.

Scotland’s Marc Warren played himself on, off and back on to the European Tour all in the space of a crazy hour at Lumine in Spain as he came through the European Tour’s torturous Qualifying School Final with his playing rights intact.

Sam Skinner is the most glaring alteration in Gregor Townsend’s grand plan for the Autumn Tests as he is retained in the Scotland team but at blindside flanker for the visit of South Africa on Saturday.